Improvement in bed-bottoms



UNITED STATES GEORGE RICHARDSON, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

IMPROVEMENT IN BED-BOTTOMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 118,745, dated September 5, 1871; antedated August 18, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE RICHARDSON, of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of IViscOnsin, have invented certain Improvements in Bed-Bottoms, and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the annexed drawing making part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a plan view of my improved bedbottoin, showing the fram e-work, the windlass for tightening the wire-cloth, and the cross-wires for supporting such cloth or netting, and also aportion ofthe mattress. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of a bedstead having my bed-bottom applied thereto, the wires upon which the mattress rests being' clearly shown, with the mattress resting thereon, and a cross-section of the supporting-wires. Fig. 3 is a plan view, showing the lateral supporting-wires. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the frame to which the wire portion of the bottom is secured.

Corresponding letters refer to corresponding parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to wire bed-bottoms, and it consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of some of its parts, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

A A in the drawing refer to the frame-work to which the wire and the windlass are attached. This frame may be made to fit any kind of bedstead to which it may be desirable to apply it, it consisting of boards or planks of the suitable thickness, properly joined together at the corners, and provided upon its upper sides with sheets of metal A A, which are secured to the sides and one end of such frame, and are perforated with a series of holes for the purpose of attaching the wire-cloth thereto. The foot-rail or bar of this frame, is provided at its ends with plates of metal, which are secured thereto by means of screws or in. any other suitable manner, and may have cylindrical projections upon their outer surfaces of sufficient length to pass through the side rails, and receive a thumb-nut for the purpose of holding the frame together at that point, or a bolt may pass through all of the parts, as shown in Fig. 4. B refers to a roller or windlass, the ends of which have their bearin gs in plates of metal B2 B2, which are fitted into recesses formed upon the inner surfaces of the side rails, or they may be upon such inner surfaces, they being properly secured thereto. Upon the ends of this roller ratchetwheels B1 B1 are secured, as shown in Figs. l and 2. A ratchet or pawl, B3, is pivoted to the plate B2 in such a position that when the roller or windlass is wound up for the purpose of stretching the wire-cloth it will engage with the ratchet-wheel, and thus holdthe windlass in the proper position. C C refer to bolts which pass through the frame A at or near its ends, and are provided with thumbnuts upon their outer ends, which work in recesses formed in the side rails and serve to fasten the frame together; it may, however, be held by plates with projections upon them, as above described, if preferred. D refers to the wire or cloth of which the support for the mattress is composed. This wire may be woven or otherwise attached together. It is to be of sufficient length to be attached to the plate upon the foot-rail of the frame, and to extend to and partially around the roller or windlass at the opposite end of such frame, where it is firmly secured to such roller, so that when such roller is turned, as above described, the wire will be stretched, and any sag which it may have acquired from use will be taken up. Drcfcrs to a section of wire-cloth or a series of wire springs which are to be placed at or near the center of the frame, and are secured to the side rails thereof, the upper surface of which comes in contact or nearly in contact with the longitudinally-placed wire D, it being designed as a support for such longitudinal wire or cloth, and thus prevent it from sagging in the center. E refers to amattress which may be placed upon the bed-bottom, and, if desirable, it may be attached to the frame thereof by means of straps, as shown in Fig. 2. F refers to a bedstead which may be of any desired form of construction, but which, as it forms no part of this invention, need not be described here.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination of the frame A, windlass B, and wire-cloth D upon which the mattress rests, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the frame A, metal strips A', and wire supports D', substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Witnesses: l GEO. RICHARDSON.

GEO. B. GOODWIN,

RIGHAED DAVIS. (35.) 

